“For most of my life, I have struggled to find God, to know
God, to love God. I have tried hard to follow the guidelines of the spiritual
life—pray always, work for others, read the Scriptures—and to avoid the many
temptations to dissipate myself. I have failed many times but always tried
again, even when I was close to despair.
Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that
during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love
me. The question is not “How am I to find God?” but “How am I to let myself be
found by him?” The question is not “How am I to know God?” but “How am I to let
myself be known by God?” And, finally, the question is not “How am I to love
God?” but “How am I to let myself be loved by God?” God is looking into the
distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.”
Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Return
of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
_______________________________________
how are we to be found?
as we blunder through each day
trying to make life happen
trying to find success, power, wealth, and love
seeking, manipulating, grasping
we are so busy
so occupied
that we fail to notice
the beauty underfoot
the truth when it is there, right in front of us
instead, we trample on the good
and create our own truth
blindly striving
trying to make it work
to make reality fit our preconceptions
we recreate the world
an alternative reality
we create God in our own image
and we become impervious
to truth and love
unable to find the way
and we subvert life
Lord, you seek us
You find us, every day
You meet us where we are
And say
Come home
Lord help us come to our senses
help us to quiet the noise
loosen our fists
open our hearts
that we might give you room
in our souls
to love us
and then secure in that love
let us be found
forgiven
loved
until our longing is satisfied
our fear allayed
and we can
quiet and reject the voices of hate and fear
that are within
that assail us from without
and embrace the truth
and walk in your way
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